U.S. Announces Indictment In Russian Spy Ring Case

A Russian citizen who worked in New York as a banker has been indicted on charges of participating in a Cold War-style Russian spy ring.

The February 9 indictment in Manhattan federal court says Evgeny Buryakov and two others conspired to spy and acted as spies.

U.S. prosecutors say that from 2012 through January, Buryakov teamed up with low-level diplomats to gather sensitive economic intelligence on potential U.S. sanctions against Russian banks.

Prosecutors say they also tried to recruit others.

At the time, Buryakov worked at the Manhattan branch of a Russian bank.

The diplomats, though charged, are believed to have returned to Russia and are protected by immunity because of their diplomatic status.

Based on reporting by AP